Jose Cisneros Pictorial Collection
Collection
Identifier: PICT-2002-016
Scope and Content
In 2002 Nancy Brown Martinez asked Jose Cisneros for permission to use some of his drawings in exhibits and class orientations at the CSWR. Jose gave her permission provided his work was credited. In addition, he sent Nancy as a gift a packet with a number of copies of his drawings, which is this small collection. Included is a card honoring Charles Motsch for his gift of a letter press to the University of Texas,commemorating J. Carl Hertzog; as well as a keepsake print about typography and Hertzog's contribution, featuring a drawing by Cisneros (1987).
There is also an announcement and short history for the New Mexico National Guard, entitled "Always Ready," by Cisneros, with a drawing of a New Mexico military officer and militiaman on foot. There are also 7 images from the book, "Faces of the Borderlands," placed in a oval of barbed wire.
Another drawing from 1990 is "El Adelantado Don Juan de Oñate." The "Arrival of Don Juan de Oñate at Paso del Norte, April 30th, 1598," is from 1993. "The Don Juan de Oñate Expedition at Paso del Norte A.D. 1598," was done in 1995. The Oñate image includes monks and Native Americans who accompanied the Governor. Another shows the founding of the Guadalupe Mission.
A 2017 addition is the print, "Arival at Early El Paso (Franklin)" 1981, appearing in a commemorative folder for the Texas State Historical Association.
A 2017 addition is the print, "Arival at Early El Paso (Franklin)" 1981, appearing in a commemorative folder for the Texas State Historical Association.
Dates
- 1984-1995
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research.
Copy Restrictions
Duplication of print and photographic material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for copyright compliance. For more information see the Photographs and Images Research Guide and contact the Pictorial Archivist.
Biography
Jose Cisneros with Leroy Brown, 1977
José Cisneros was born in Villa Ocampo, Durango, in 1910. He was revered as a historian with a sketch pad, an artist who illustrated more than 300 historical books and publications. He taught himself to read and write and finished the fifth grade, but his true calling was as a rare and talented artist. He used to paint buses or work in a department store by day and draw at home at night. He bought illustrated books on Spanish American history, clipped pictures from newspapers and studied them to help with his designs. His pen and ink sketches of colonial Spanish, Mexican, Native American and frontier American figures and the El Paso region are known around the world. He wanted to create an interesting view of the characters of Southwestern history so they would not be forgotten. He believed history belonged to the people, was generous in letting others use his drawings and was never concerned about money for them. Often described as a world-class illustrator, Cisneros built an international reputation with pen-and-ink illustrations of Mexican, American and Spanish history. He was best known for detailed pen-and-ink drawings of horses and Spanish horsemen that he often described as his favorite subjects. Besides pen work, he was also a painter, wood carver, muralist and a writer.
Cisneros taught himself to read and write. He was displaced by the Mexican Revolution of 1910 and his family eventually settled in El Paso-Juárez in 1925. He married Vicenta Cisneros and they had five daughters.
Collectors of Cisneros' art include former President George W. Bush and his wife. Former first lady Laura Bush once described Cisneros as a friend and "a magnificent artist and important historian of the Southwest."
King Juan Carlos of Spain knighted Cisneros for contributing to the understanding of history of New Spain through his art. He became the first recipient outside of the country to receive the prestigious Universidad de Alcalá Award. For his great art work, the Tigua Pueblo Council made him an honorary Tigua Indian.
In 2002, President Bush awarded Cisneros the National Humanities Medal for his work as an artist and historian. Cisneros also received the National Cowboy Hall of Fame Wrangler Award in 1985 for his book, "Riders Across the Centuries." Almost all his works are now in museums, galleries or in the hands of collectors.
Cisernos passed away in 2009 at the age of 99 in El Paso, TX.
Source: Rentería, Ramón. "Jose Cisneros: Iconic El Paso artist dies." El Paso Times. N. P., 15 Nov. 2009. Web. 23 Aug. 2014.
José Cisneros was born in Villa Ocampo, Durango, in 1910. He was revered as a historian with a sketch pad, an artist who illustrated more than 300 historical books and publications. He taught himself to read and write and finished the fifth grade, but his true calling was as a rare and talented artist. He used to paint buses or work in a department store by day and draw at home at night. He bought illustrated books on Spanish American history, clipped pictures from newspapers and studied them to help with his designs. His pen and ink sketches of colonial Spanish, Mexican, Native American and frontier American figures and the El Paso region are known around the world. He wanted to create an interesting view of the characters of Southwestern history so they would not be forgotten. He believed history belonged to the people, was generous in letting others use his drawings and was never concerned about money for them. Often described as a world-class illustrator, Cisneros built an international reputation with pen-and-ink illustrations of Mexican, American and Spanish history. He was best known for detailed pen-and-ink drawings of horses and Spanish horsemen that he often described as his favorite subjects. Besides pen work, he was also a painter, wood carver, muralist and a writer.
Cisneros taught himself to read and write. He was displaced by the Mexican Revolution of 1910 and his family eventually settled in El Paso-Juárez in 1925. He married Vicenta Cisneros and they had five daughters.
Collectors of Cisneros' art include former President George W. Bush and his wife. Former first lady Laura Bush once described Cisneros as a friend and "a magnificent artist and important historian of the Southwest."
King Juan Carlos of Spain knighted Cisneros for contributing to the understanding of history of New Spain through his art. He became the first recipient outside of the country to receive the prestigious Universidad de Alcalá Award. For his great art work, the Tigua Pueblo Council made him an honorary Tigua Indian.
In 2002, President Bush awarded Cisneros the National Humanities Medal for his work as an artist and historian. Cisneros also received the National Cowboy Hall of Fame Wrangler Award in 1985 for his book, "Riders Across the Centuries." Almost all his works are now in museums, galleries or in the hands of collectors.
Cisernos passed away in 2009 at the age of 99 in El Paso, TX.
Source: Rentería, Ramón. "Jose Cisneros: Iconic El Paso artist dies." El Paso Times. N. P., 15 Nov. 2009. Web. 23 Aug. 2014.
Extent
9 items (1 folder) : 9 prints
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Prints and pamphlets by artist Jose Cisneros depicting scenes from the history of colonial New Mexico and the Texas border regions. Most of the images are black and white, with two in color.
Physical Location
B2. Filed in large drawers by Pictorial Number.
- Title
- Finding Aid of the Jose Cisneros Pictorial Collection, 1984-1995
- Status
- Edited Full Draft
- Date
- © 2014, 2017
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English
Revision Statements
- Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.
Repository Details
Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository
Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451